Piano-action frame.



No. 882,288. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

F. G. BILLINGS, PIANO ACTION FRAME.

APPLIOATIOK FILED n12, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

,I/v VEA/ 7-01? I 1. m w w PATBNTBD MAR. 17, 1908.

2 SHEETS-$11331 2.

F G BILLINGS PIANO ACTION FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1907.

FREDERICK GEORGE BILLINGS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

PIANO-ACTION FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed. May 2, 1907. Serial No. 371,755.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FnEDERIcK GEORGE BILLINGS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Action Frames, of which the following is a specification containing a full,

clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drax'vings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates generally to piano actions, and more particularly to metal rails which are secured to the brackets of the frame of the action, and to which rails various metal. flanges are detachably secured.

By my improved arrangement of equipping piano actions with continuous metal rails in the form of angle bars, a very rigid action is produced, the regulation of the parts of the action is made more positive and secure on account of the non-shrinkage of the metal rails, the labor and time involved in assembling the action is greatly reduced, and perfoot alinement of all the flanges attached to said rails is insured.

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be here inafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which I Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the brackets of a piano action, and showing the continuous metallic rails secured thereto; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the center of an action equipped with the continuous metal rails, and showing the flanges secured to said rails, and the various parts of the action carried by said flanges; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the tongue, or lower flange rail, as constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken through a portion of one of the brackets, and showing the lower flange or tongue rail in position on said bracket; Fig. 5 is an elevation of a portion of the rail which receives the damper and hammer-butt flanges, and to which rail is secured the blocks to which are pivotally connected the damper lever rods; Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section showing a portion of one of the brackets and the regulating rail attached thereto; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7, and showing a portion of the regulating rail, Fig.

.whip or rocker flanges B,

' brackets 1, and being 9 is a tranverse section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings :1 designates the vertically disposed bracket, such as is made use of in the actions of upright pianos, and formed on the rear side of the lower portion of each bracket is a lug 2, having a horizontally disposed top surface; and formed on the corresponding side of the bracket, a short distance above said lug 2, is a lug 3, having a horizontally disposed top surface. Formed on the rear side of the bracket, immediately above this lug 3, is a notch l, which is overhung by a lug 5 and formed on the front side of the bracket at a point between the lug 3 iLllCl notch 4 is a lug 6, having a flat top surace.

The continuous rail 7, which receives the lower or tongue flanges is in the form of a metal angle-bar, provided in its front face with a longitudinally extending groove 8, which receives the laterally bent upper ends of the tongue flanges; and formed through the vertical portion of this rail, below the groove 8, is a series of screw threaded apertures 9, which receive the screws used in se curing the tongue flanges to the rail. Formed in the horizontal portion of the rail 7 are slots 10, having open rear ends, through which slots pass screws 11, which enter the lugs 2 on the brackets 1, and thus rigidly fix the rail 7 to the brackets 1. The horizontal portion of the rail 7 engages on the flat top surfaces of the lugs 2; and, owing to the provision of the slots 10 in the horizontal portion of said rail,

the same may be adjusted horizontally, as

the screws 11, which desired, by loosening adjustment correspondingly and simultaneously shifts all of the tongue-flanges A carried by said rail 7.

A continuous rail 12, which carries the is constructed in the form of an angle bar, similar in size to the rail 7 and formed in the outer face of the vertical portion of this rail 12 is a continuous groove 13, which receives the laterally bent ends of the whip or rocker flanges B. This rail 12 is positioned on the lugs 3 ofthe rigidly fixed thereto by through the'lower porand enter screws 14, which pass tion of the vertical web of said rail said lugs 3.

A continuous rail 15, in the form of an angle bar, is arranged in the notches 4 of the brackets 1, and beneath the lugs 5, and said A filler 25, of wood rail is rigidly fixed in position by screws 16 passing through both the vertical and hori zontal portions of said rail and entering the brackets 1 and lugs 5; and formed in the outer face of the vertical portion of this rail is a continuous groove 17, which receives the laterally bent lower ends of the hammer-butt fianges C. Formed in the top surface of the horizontal portion of the rail 15 is a continuous groove 18, which receives the laterally bent rear ends of the damper flanges D. Fixed to the under side of the rail 15, at suitable distances apart, are blocks 19, in which are journaled the horizontally disposed upper ends of hangers 20, the lower ends of which are seated in the damper lever rod 21.

A regulating rail 22, in the form of a corn tinuous angle bar, is arranged on the lugs 6 and adjustably held thereon by means of screws 23 passing through open outer-ended slots 24 formed in the horizontal portion of said rail, and which screws enter the lugs 6. or analogous material, and rectangular in cross section, is arranged on the under side of this regulating rail, and held thereon by means of screws 26 passing through the horizontal portion of said rail and entering said filler. Passing through suitably located apertures in the horizontal portion of this rail 22, and through the filler carried thereby, are the regulating screws E, the lower ends of which are provided with the usual regulating buttons .F. The filler 25 is positioned beneath the regulating rail 22 in order to provide sufficient bearing for the regulating screws E as they are adjusted vertically to regulate the stroke of the jacks.

The rails 7 and 22 can readily be adjusted laterally to accurately and simultaneously shift the positions of the parts carried by said rails, and all of the rails being of anglear form, and being connected to the brackets 1, provide a very rigid construction, which will not warp,

and which will always maintain the operating parts of an action in proper position. claim 1. The combination with a series of vertically disposed brackets of a piano action, of a plurality of continuous metal rails in the form of angle bars rigidly fixed to the brackets, and which rails are provided in their faces with continuous grooves.

2. A piano action frame, comprising a series of vertically disposed brackets, a plurall ity of lugs formed integral with each bracket, l the corresponding lugs of the brackets being I in horizontal alinement, metal rails in the 3 form of angle bars 1 of horizontally grooves formed i rails. 3. A piano action frame, comprising a sej ries of vertically disposed brackets, a plurality of lugs formed integral with each bracket, the corresponding lugs of the brackets being in horizontal alinement, and metal rails in the form of angle bars rigidly fixed to the series of horizontally alined lugs, there being continul ous grooves formed in the faces of said rails. I 4. A piano action frame, comprising a se- I ries of vertically disposed brackets, lugs in I tegral with the front and rear edges of said I brackets, and continuous rails in the form of I l l l l rigidly fixed to the series alined lugs, and there being in the faces of said metal angle bars rigidly fixed to said lugs, there being continuous grooves formed the continuous rails.

5. A piano action frame, comprising a series of vertically disposed brackets, lugs integral with the rear sides of the brackets, a series of continuous rails in the form of angle bars rigidly fixed to said. lugs, a lug integral with the front side of each bracket, and a continuous rail in the form of an angle bar adj ustably secured to the lugs on the front of the brackets.

6. A piano action frame, comprising a series of vertically disposed brackets, a series of continuous rails in the form of angle bars attached to the rear sides of the brackets, one of which rails is horizontally adjustable on the brackets, and a continuous rail in the form of an angle bar adjustably secured on the front of the bracket.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK GEORGE BILLINGS.

in the faces of itnesses C. M. CHEsEBRo, l E. BAUMANN. 

